Improvement in torpedoes for oil-wells



J. DICKEY.

Torpedo for Oil Wells.

Patented Sept. 14. 1869.

N. PETERS, Pnuo-L-ma m lw. Washmgkm. cu:

hole in the cap where UNITED STATES TPnTnnT Trice.

JAMES DIOKEY, OF VENANGO CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 94,813,

dated September 14, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES DIoKEY, of Venango pity, in the county ofVenango, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Torpedoes; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and description thereof, which will enable others skilledin the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which thedrawing represents a sectional view of my invention, the section beingtaken through the major axis of the torpedo.

The object of this invention is to provide a torpedo which affords aninstantaneous and explosive effect, thereby'acting upon the surroundingmedia with a more instantaneous concussive effect.

The two shells are constructed with appliances conducin-g to theirproper charging and explosion, the torpedo being designed moreparticularly for exploding in oil-wells, to increase theirproductiveness, or for submarine blasting.

In the drawings, A is the outer case or shell, and is preferably of castmetal, as iron. It is fitted with a tight screw-cap, B, through whichthe insulated wires 0 0 pass to enter the inner case E, containing theexplosive material. The case E is somewhat smaller than the shell A, soas to afford a sufficient space for containing a quantity of compressedoxygen, as aforesaid. In practice the oxygenmay be compressed to anyrequired degree, but 1 usually prefer to produce a tension of aboutfifty pounds per square inch.

D is a small screw-plug, which closes the the gas is injected from asuitable pump. a is a spring-valve for preventing the escape of the gasafter its removal from connection with the pump, and before thescrew-plug D is screwed in.

The torpedo is exploded by an electric in the usual manner, and thewires 0 through the screw-cap G, as shown, thus bringing their proximateends within the powder-case E. A small perforation is made in the cap ofthe powder-case so that the pressure within and without may be inequt'lz'bm'o, thus preventing the collapsing of the powdercase fromexternal pressure. The presence of the gas immediately in the powderalso conduces to its more instantaneous combustion and explosion whichis the point to be attained.

It has beenclearly demonstrated from practice that my improved torpedooperates with 0 pass instantaneous concussion WlllOh produces the mostextensive fissures in the adjacent rock.

I desire to be understood as not limiting my invention to the preciseconstruction of the torpedo above described, for the same is subject tomany modifications, all involving the principle of the invention, whichmay be briefly stated as a torpedo provided with an inner receptacle orcase containing the explosive material, as powder, gun-cotton, and thelike, and with an outer receptacle, shell, or case containing compressedoxygen, the whole being provided with accessory devices for chargingwith gas and exploding the torpedo by electricity.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A torpedo having the space between its inner andouter cases charged with compressed pose specified.

JAMES DIGKEY.

spark oxygen, substan tially as described, for the pur-

